Skip to main content
C
Rank 2
chrissfoot
Rank 2
May 14, 2018
Solved

Why are OVO disabling the real-time smart usage features!?

  • May 14, 2018
  • 84 replies
  • 12609 views
I have had an email today to tell me that OVO are now discontinuing the real time usage data collected by the smart gateway. I have been using this (via the api) to feed into OpenHAB and allow my smart-home to make decisions based on the current usage so am extremely disappointed at this decision.

However, i'm hoping that there is a way forward using the smart gateway. Looking more closely at the device it seems to be a fairly standard telegesis zigbee data collector. It has a web based management interface but I do not have the username/password for this. Does anyone know what it is? If I can get into the config then the sever that it posts to could be changed to my own one and then OVO can switch off whatever they like!

TLDR; Does anyone know the username/password for the smart gateway management interface?
    Best answer by

    Updated on 26/06/23 by Emmanuelle_OVO

     

    Want to find out more about your energy use:

     

     

     


    As you've all heard, unfortunately we made the difficult decision to remove this feature on our old online system due to ongoing issues with it.

     

    Since then we’ve built our own billing platform with great energy usage visibility on your online account or OVO app (download for Android or iOS):

     

    Exact appearance may vary

     

    You can also see live usage on your In Home Display. See how on the guides below: 

    S1 Pipit In Home Display (IHD) guide

    S1 Chameleon In Home Display (IHD) guide

    S2 In Home Display (IHD) guide 


    If you have a Smart Gateway, it can simply be unplugged and recycled as an electrical device. If you have a Wi-Fi connected IHD, it can continue as an In-Home Display by following these steps:

    1. Tap 'OK' once to enter the menu.
    2. Navigate to 'Adjust settings'; then tap 'OK' to enter the submenu.
    3. Navigate to 'Wi-Fi options'; then tap 'OK' to enter the submenu.
    4. The device will say 'Leave network'; tap 'OK' to leave the Wi-Fi network.
    5. Your device will now function as a normal IHD.

    If you have a Smart Gateway and don't have a Pipit or Chameleon IHD, reach out to our Support Team to request one.

     

    OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

     

    Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

     

    84 replies

    Show previous replies
    E
    Newcomer
    ErTnEc
    Newcomer
    May 31, 2018
    Luckily I can work around the issue by having an awesome firewall (Ubiquity USG) which will allow me to override the dns and talk to my own servers but others aren't so fortunate i'm sure.

    I really hope there is some solution to allowing smart meters to talk to smart homes soon

    This is true, it appears that the Chameleon IHD doesn't work with self-signed SSL certs, and doesn't fall back to HTTP to send data, so I'm unable to pull anything from this as yet...
    B
    Newcomer
    BazPraz
    Newcomer
    August 12, 2018
    Nearly three months ago - following the demise of the Smart Usage facility - OVO made the following statement:-

    "Rather than provide a poor service which results in a poor customer experience and customer contact - we’re going to stop providing the features to focus on other technology that will provide a better customer experience."

    Has anybody seen (or heard of) any sign of a "better customer experience"?
    Tim_OVO
    OVO Staff
    Tim_OVO
    OVO Forum Legend
    August 17, 2018
    There won't be much change to these online services since that update, @BazPraz - we've got a small number of customers trialing our new platform, and the greater roll out is taking longer then expected. But just watch this space. If you've got a smart meter fitted, there's some great new features heading your way! 🆒
    Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
    D
    Newcomer
    davidfsmith
    Newcomer
    August 17, 2018
    But just watch this space. If you've got a smart meter fitted, there's some great new features heading your way! 🆒

    But when? and does "great new features" include API access to our usage data?
    Tim_OVO
    OVO Staff
    Tim_OVO
    OVO Forum Legend
    August 20, 2018
    But when? and does "great new features" include API access to our usage data?

    When depends on how well these early trials go. I'm sorry I can't be more specific. As for live API access, your best bet is to sign up to take part in future trials for this: https://forum.ovoenergy.com/understanding-your-smart-meter-65/smart-meter-live-usage-api-58
    Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
      D
      Newcomer
      davidfsmith
      Newcomer
      August 20, 2018
      When depends on how well these early trials go. I'm sorry I can't be more specific. As for live API access, your best bet is to sign up to take part in future trials for this: https://forum.ovoenergy.com/understanding-your-smart-meter-65/smart-meter-live-usage-api-58

      Already done that and sent you a DM / PM (depending on how you look at them) 😉
      M
      Newcomer
      Maxjonz
      Newcomer
      March 6, 2019
      For quite a while now, I have not been able to see today's data as it is being used. I can see data for any day/week/month before today but not today (both Gas and Electric) I thought that the idea of a smart meter was so that we could see what is happening and make changes if needed, but obviously I cannot do this. Does anyone know if there a fault somewhere ?
      Nancy_OVO
      Retired Moderator
      Nancy_OVO
      Retired Moderator
      March 12, 2019
      Hey @Maxjonz - I've moved your post over here where you can find more information about the issue you've mentioned.
      Your guiding light(bulb)
      S
      Newcomer
      Sterling
      Newcomer
      March 12, 2019
      OVO had been taking the lead in smart metering but removed the very successful Smart Gateway functionality with little notice to its customers. Hopefully, an OVO competitor will move into this space.
      Transparent
      Rank 20
      Transparent
      Rank 20
      March 17, 2019
      Hi @Maxjonz Sorry I've only just spotted your comment.

      As far as I know, DCC only poll your Smart Meters once each day to collect the usage data. Someone else posted on the Forum a few months ago to say that this was just after midnight, but I can't remember how they had calculated that!

      So you'll only be able to view yesterday's data on OVO's website. The current day's data is visible only on your IHD.

      At some point this will probably change. Most of us will be moving to Demand Side Response, which is a half-hour variable tariff (also known as Time-Of-Use tariff). That means we can take advantage of electricity at lower price-points throughout the day.

      Since DCC will need to send such day at intervals during the day, I see no reason why they wouldn't import the latest set of usage data at the same time.

      Let me know if you'd like further clarification of the above.
      Save energy... recycle electrons!
      Show more replies
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

      OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

      OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

      OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd